Association of Dry Period Length with Automatic Milking System, Mastitis, and Reproductive Indicators in Cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between dry period (DP) length and various indicators of productivity, reproduction, and udder health in cows managed with an automatic milking system. We analyzed records from 3861 cows, categorizing them into three groups based on their DP duration: (1) <40 days, (2) 40-70 days, and (3) DP > 70 days. Cows with a DP of 40-70 days had an average energy-corrected milk production that was 8.2 kg greater than that of cows with a short DP and 5.0 kg greater than that of cows with a long DP (p < 0.001). Milk from the 40-70-day DP group exhibited the highest lactose concentration (4.64 ± 0.01%). Additionally, cows with the longest DP had the smallest proportion of animals with a milk fat-to-protein ratio of 1.2 to 1.4. Cows with a DP of 40-70 days also showed the lowest milk electrical conductivity across all udder quarters, whereas cows with the shortest DP had the highest conductivity. The highest conception rates were observed in the group with the shortest DP. These results suggest that a DP of 40-70 days is optimal for maximizing milk production and improving both udder health and reproductive performance under AMS. Proper management of DP duration can be an effective strategy for sustainable dairy herd management.

Identification of 3-((4-Hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic Acid Derivatives as Anticancer Candidates with Promising Antioxidant Properties.

Various cancer-associated morbidities remain a growing global health challenge, resulting in a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide due to high mortality rates and a frequent lack of novel therapeutic options for advanced and localized disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cancer pathogenesis and response to chemotherapeutics; therefore, it is crucial to develop novel compounds with both antioxidant and anticancer activity. In this study, a series of previously reported 3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic acid derivatives (compounds 1-36) were evaluated for their anticancer and antioxidant activities. Compounds 12, 20-22, and 29 were able to reduce A549 cell viability by 50% and suppress A549 cell migration in vitro. These compounds also showed favorable cytotoxicity properties towards noncancerous Vero cells. The most promising candidate, compound 20, exhibited potent antioxidant properties in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. These results demonstrate that 3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic acid could be further explored as an attractive scaffold for the development of novel anticancer and antioxidant candidates.

Determining the Association of the Dry Period Duration with Dystocia and Stillbirths in Dairy Cows by Considering Parity, Season, and Gestation Length.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the length of the dry period (DL) and the risks of dystocia and stillbirths in Holstein cows. A total of 1072 healthy cows in lactations 1 and ≥2 were categorized based on the DL (mean: 58.07 ± 0.33 days) into three groups: short DL (<40 days; 13.0% of cows), medium DL (40-70 days; 60.1%), and long DL (>70 days; 26.9%). Dystocia occurred in 12.4% of cows, while stillbirths accounted for 4.1% of calves. The medium DL group had the highest number of unassisted calvings. The dystocia rates were 11.4% for cows with gestation (GA) ≤ 274 days; 6.0% for cows with GA = 275-282 days; and 19.9% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). In season 1 (November-April), dystocia occurred in 15.0% of cases compared to 8.8% in season 2 (May-October) (p < 0.001). The stillbirth rates ranged from 3.6% to 4.0% for cows with medium and long DLs; while those with a short DL had 5.8% (p < 0.05). The stillbirth rates were 5.2% for cows with GA ≤ 274 days; 3.2% for cows with GA = 275-282 days; and 5.1% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). Season 1 had a stillbirth rate of 4.8%, while season 2 had a stillbirth rate of 3.3% (p < 0.001). This research provides insights that could assist the dairy industry in making informed decisions to reduce the incidence rates of dystocia and stillbirths in cows.

Quality Changes of Cold-Pressed Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), and Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) Seed Oils during Storage.

Oils derived from non-traditional seeds, such as safflower, milk thistle, and black cumin seeds, have recently grown in popularity. Seed oil is in high demand due to consumer interest in illness prevention and health promotion through healthier diets that include a high concentration of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant phenolic components. This study assessed the quality characteristics of cold-pressed seed oil at three unique storage times: at the beginning of the trial (i.e., before storage), after 2 months, and after 4 months. The results of the performed analyses indicate that the acidity of extracted black cumin, safflower, and milk thistle seed oil fluctuates considerably over time. The highest acidity level change was detected for black cumin seed oil, from 10.26% after the extraction to 16.96% after 4 months of storage at 4 °C. Consequently, changes between pre- and post-storage peroxide concentrations were discernible after four months. Peroxide value in milk thistle and safflower seed oils increased by 0.92 meq/kg and 2.00 meq/kg, respectively, during the assessed storage time, while that of black cumin was very high and fluctuated. The storage period substantially affects oxidative changes and the oxidation stability of the oil. Major changes were observed in the polyunsaturated fatty acids in seed oil during storage. The essential changes were detected in the black cumin seed oil odor profile after 4 storage months. Their quality and stability, as well as the nature of the changes that occur during the storage of oil, require extensive investigation.

Relationship between Reticulorumen Parameters Measured in Real Time and Methane Emission and Heat Stress Risk in Dairy Cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate a connection between CH4 emissions and reticulorumen pH and temperature. During the experiment, we registered the following parameters: reticulorumen pH (pH), reticulorumen temperature (RR temp.), reticulorumen temperature without drinking cycles, ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, cow activity, heat index, temperature−humidity index (THI), and methane emissions (CH4). The experimental animals were divided into two groups based on the reticulorumen pH: 1. pH < 6.22 and 2. pH 6.22−6.42. We found that cows assigned to the second pH class had higher (46.18%) average values for methane emissions (p < 0.01). For the other indicators, higher average values were detected in cows of the first pH class, RR temperature (2.80%), relative humidity (20.96%), temperature−humidity index (2.47%) (p < 0.01), and temperature (3.93%) (p < 0.05), which were higher compared to cows of the second pH class. Reticulorumen pH was highly negatively correlated with THI and temperature (r = −0.667 to 0.717, p < 0.001) and somewhat negatively with heat index, relative humidity, and RR temperature (r = −0.536, p < 0.001; r = −0.471 to 0.456, p < 0.01). Cows with a higher risk of heat stress had a higher risk of lower reticulorumen pH.